Can we believe the incredible details in the book of Jonah truly happened? When we understand the purpose of the book, Jonah’s assignment in warning Ninevah of impending destruction, God’s willingness for a pagan nation to repent, and the context wherein Jesus cites back to the “sign of Jonah” as a symbol for his death, burial, and resurrection, we must believe that all the details happened as the text describes it. No Hebrew would have fabricated a story like Jonah and Ninevah’s repentance, and Jesus would not have used Jonah’s time in the belly of the great fish to foretell of His sacrifice otherwise.
- Jonah – is it credible/incredible?
- “Fish story” – Thrown overboard, swallowed by a fish, lived 3 days, thrown up on dry land…
- Went into greatest/worst city on earth and his preaching immediately yielded repentance from king to the least of them…
- Man sitting in desert heat was shaded by a plant that grew overnight
- Are these key elements of Jonah believable? Are they accurate historic events?
- Who was Jonah?
- Prophet in 8th century BC, during 41-year reign of Jeroboam II – 2 Kgs. 14:25
- Compare 2 Kgs. 14:25 to 6:8-12 (Elisha) – Jonah’s reputation could have spread similarly
- Worked much more as God’s messenger than just preaching to Ninevah
- Jonah 1:1-3; 4:1-2 – Jonah hated Ninevah, welcomed its destruction, and knew God would want their repentance
- Prophet in 8th century BC, during 41-year reign of Jeroboam II – 2 Kgs. 14:25
- Jonah and pagan sailors
- Fled from God, boarded ship; pagan sailors prayed to their gods while Jonah slept thru storm
- 1:8-9 – Who are you? “I fear the Lord, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the dry land.”
- Did he really fear the Lord?
- How would you answer such questions?
- Sailors then feared God, but showed compassion on Jonah…
- 1:16 – Conversion, offered sacrifices and made vows. Did these men continue to serve God, telling others about that day?
- Jonah and great fish
- Ch. 2 – Thought he might drown, then swallowed by fish, imprisoned 3 days (dark, smelly, miserable)
- 2:10 – Finally unceremoniously freed; unknown after-effects
- Likely returned home, unknown distance, unknown passage of time until next calling
- Was news of this event widespread? Did this make him a more effective prophet? Would Ninevah have repented had he gone the first time? (Mt. 12:38-41)
- Preaching to Ninevah
- Jonah arose and went (1:3 v. 3:3) – Same reasons/excuses as before existed (hate them, long journey, hard travel, etc.), but now Jonah has learned obedience
- 3:4 – “Yet 40 days, and Ninevah shall be overthrown!”
- Brief, yet convincing and effective preaching!
- Who is this? Great prophet of Israel, who ran from God, then spent 3 days in belly of great fish…
- 3:5 – People believed
- 4:1, 5 – Jonah went outside city to watch for destruction, apparently didn’t believe repentance would last
- Learns compassion, value of soul
- Applications
- 2 Pet. 3:9 – God desires repentance. If Ninevah could repent, how about all of Assyria, other nations?
- God used Jonah for His purposes
- Turned sailors to God, sending them out wherever they went…
- Made Jonah more effective prophet
- Believability – would an Israelite fabricate this story, tarnishing name of famous prophet, allowing heathen nation to escape judgment, and elevate them above Israel?
- Wouldn’t have been accepted by Hebrews had it not been true
- Wouldn’t have been cited by Jesus were it not accurate